Mechanical toy



H. G. FISHER MECHANICAL TOY Jan. 26, 1937.

Filed May 29, 1936 Hggm M INVENTCZR cmfilashen Patented Jan. 26, 1937 PATENT OFFICE mzcnmcu. 'ror Herman G. Fisher, East Aurora, N. Y., allignor to Fisher-Price Toys, Inc.. East Aurora, N. Y.

Application May 29, 1936, Serial No. 82,538

7 Claims.

.This invention relates to mechanical toys and it has particular relation to toys having movable parts which operate as a result of rolling the toy along the floor or some other surface.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved toy of this character embodying a simplified mechanism for motivating a plurality of movable elements in different planes of motion.

Another object is to provide a toy which has movable limbs wherein an axle is provided with means connected to the limbs for translating rotational motion of the axle into straight line reciprocation and rotative oscillation to move the limbs in transverse planes.

One embodiment of the invention is exemplified in a toy which includes front and rear supporting axles and pairs of wheels secured thereto. One of the pairs of wheels is fixed in rigid relation to one of the axles, and the latter is provided with angular or bent portions to which actuating members are connected in such manner that limbs or other members of the toy can be connected thereto for oscillation in different planes as the toy is rolled along the floor, or other support, and in response to operation of the angular portions of the rotating axle. One of the actuating members is pivotally connected to an inclined angular portion of the driving axle, and this portion, in response to rotation of the axle, describes a somewhat conical path of motion for the purpose of imparting to the actuating member a partially rotative or oscillatory motion about its longitudinal axis. The other actuating member is connected to a portion of the axle that forms a substantially cranklike arrangement, and hence, rotation of the axle causes this member to be operated, or reciprocated at its outer end, in a manner similar to the operation of a pitman.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toy in which the invention has been incorporated;

Fig. 2 isa perspective, on a larger scale, of the working elements of the toy;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan showing details of the toy construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view on a larger scale, showing in detail a connection for one of the operating elements of the toy; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing in detail a motion translating connection employed in the toy construction.

In practicing the invention, a platform or frame I is provided which can be formed of wood, or other suitable material, and is provided with depending flanges I! having bearing members l3 that can be in the form of staples or similar elements. A transverse axle I! having wheels I6 rigidly secured to opposite ends thereof is rotatably supported in the bearing members I 3. Another similar pair of wheels I! mounted upon an axle it that is carried in the frame l0, supports one end of the frame opposite the wheels I 6. 10

An intermediate portion of the axle I6 is provided with an integral offset section parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheels and which is joined with the body of the axle by means of an inclined section 22 section 23. An upright actuating member 25, which can be in the form of a wire, is provided at its lower end portion with an eye or loop 26 embracing the horizontal section 20 in rotatable or pivotal relation, and this actuating member 20 extends upwardly through a guiding slot 21 formed longitudinally in the frame It. The upper end of the actuating member is bent to form a finger 28 that is pivotally connected, as indicated at 29, to an intermediate portion of a limb 30 of a toy figure 32. This figure is rigidly supported upon the frame I 0. One end portion of the limb 30 is provided with a pivotal connection 33 securing it to the toy figure 32, and the other end portion of the limb 30 is provided with a 30 striking element 35, which can be in the form of a toy cymbal, for striking a similar element or cymbal 36 that is mounted upon a toy sounding member 31 shown in this embodiment of the invention as being a toy drum. The frame I0 is provided with a block support 39 formed thereon upon which the drum 3'! is rigidly mounted.

A second actuating member I is bent or formed at its lower end with a hooked portion 40 42 defining an elongate bearing loop or slot 43 in which the inclined section 22 of the axle is relatively loosely disposed. This actuating member 40 can be in the form of a wire or similar element and extends upwardly through a guiding 45 slot 45 formed longitudinally in the frame Ill and substantially parallel to the slot 21. It will be noted that the slot 45 registers substantially with an intermediate portion of the inclined section 22 and that the actuating member 40 can move in the slot longitudinally of the frame Ill and the slot serves as a guide to prevent lateral movement of the actuating member from direct engagement with the inclined section of the axle.

The upper end portion of the actuating memand a substantially radial 15 drum 31 during lateral movement of the limb 50..

when the toy is rolled along a support or floor upon the wheels l6 and I1 the axle I5 is rotated and operates the actuating members 25 and 40. The section of the axle I5 serves as a crank to reciprocate the actuating member and thus to impart an upward and downward oscillating motion to the end of the limb about its pivotal connection 33 to strike the cymbals.

At the same time, the actuating member is rotated about its longitudinal axis as a result of oscillatory camming action imparted by the inclined axle section 22 to the loop 42 or slotted portion thereof, while the lower end portion of the actuating member is guided to and fro in the slot 45 (Fig. 3) of the toy frame l0. Rotative movements in the form of oscillatory impulses are thus imparted to the actuating member 40 and are translated into lateral beating action of the striking element 52 for beating the drum.

The portion of the inclined section 22 that engages the loop 42 describes an annular or conical path as the axle i5 rotates, and the relative variation in position of the engaging portions of the loop and inclined section is compensated by .the elongate configuration of the loop. The

branches of the loop carried by the rod 40 are so positioned that the forward portion is caused to turn with relation to the rear portion, when the inclined section 22 of the axle, positioned therebetween, is turned by movement of the wheel.

This turning movement of the forward branch of the loop is simultaneous with the lateral shifting of the rod 40. That is, the lower part of the element 40 is moved laterally and concurrently oscillated about its longitudinal axis, but is not actuated longitudinally because of the shape of the bearing loop 43, and the slot 45 prevents loop 43 from being displaced from properassociation with the inclined section 22. It is to be understood that the lateral movement of the lower portion of the member 40 is longitudinal with reference to the slot 45. It will be noted that the diameter of the annular path of the inclined section 22 at the location of engagement with the loop 42, is relatively small as compared with the distance from the loop 42 to the pivotal connection 41, and hence, the principal and major phase of movement of the limb 50 is in lateral directions about the pivotal connection 41. At the same time, there is slight pivoting of the limb 50 upwardly and downwardly as a result of movement of the loop 42 with the inclined section 22. The ratio of the lateral drum striking motion to the upward and downward motion of the striking element 52 is greater than 5 to 1. The upward motion commences approximately at the time the element 52 strikes the drum, or

just prior to this time. It is to be understood that the manner of connection of the actuating member 40 to the inclined section of the axle can be altered to vary the ratio mentioned as well as to vary the degree of upward or downward motion occurring in the limb 50 at the location of the striking element 52.

- rides upwardly and When the loop 42 is in the position shown in full lines of Fig. 3, the element 52 is striking or is adjacent the drum and such element is also in its lower position. On the other hand, when the loop 42 is in the position indicated by broken lines 'of Fig. 3, the element 52 has been moved laterally away from the drum and to its higher location. As viewed in Fig. 4, it will be observed that the staple 41 is in an inclined position and that the bent portion 48 of the actuating member downwardly upon this inclined staple 41 as the limb 50 is actuated laterally in drum beating action. When the element 52 is in its higher position away from the drum and then travels slightly downwardly to striking position, the fact that the staple 41 is inclined and the further fact that the force of gravity has certain influence upon the element 52, provide for added impetus to the drum beating stroke of the limb 50.

Since the elongate loop 42 fits loosely about the inclined section 22, there is appreciable play in been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A toy comprising a support, a figure having a movable limb and carried on said support, means for pivotally connecting the limb to the figure, an axle and wheel unit rotatably carried in the support, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle, an actuating member formed with an elongate opening through which the inclined section of the axle is loosely disposed, means in the support for maintaining the actuating member against lateral displacement from the inclined section of the axle, said actuating member having a connection to the movable limb whereby rotation of the axle imparts an oscillatory action to the actuating member and operates the limb in substantially a predetermined plane of oscillation.

2. A toy comprising a support, a figure having movable limbs and being carried by the support, means for pivotally connecting the limbs to the figure, axle and wheel structure connected to the support, a portion of the axle structure being offset to provide a crank-like arrangement, an actuating member articulated to the crank-like arrangement and to one of the movable limbs for actuating the latter in substantially a predetermined plane, said axle structure having an inclined section, a second actuating member articulated to said inclined section and connected to the other of the movable limbs for actuating the latter substantially in a plane at approximately right angles to the plane of operation of the first actuating member.

3. A toy comprising a support, a figure having a pair of movable limbs and being carried bythe 1| support, means for pivotally connecting the limbs t0 the figure, a pair 01 wheels having an axle rigidly secured thereto and rotatably carried in the support, said axle having a section bent and oflset to provide a crank-like arrangement, an elongate actuating member having one end looped about the crank-like arrangement of the axle, the other end portion of the actuating member being pivotally connected to one of the limbs of the figure to oscillate the latter limb in a predetermined plane, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle, a second elongate actuating member having an oblong loop formed in one end portion and having said loop engaging loosely about the inclined section of the axle, means in the support for maintaining the loop against lateral displacement from the inclined section, said second actuating member having a connection directly to the other limb adjacent its pivotal connection to the figure whereby movement of the second actuating member in response to operation of the inclined section of the shaft in said loop imparts oscillatory movementto the latter limb in a plane of oscillation approximately at right angles to the plane of oscillation of the limb actuated by the first actuating member. We

4. A toy comprising a support, a wheel having an axle rigidly secured thereto and rotatably carried in said support, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation of the axle, a movable member including an actuating element formed with an opening through which an intermediate portion of the inclined section of the axle is disposed, means carried by said support and pivotally anchoring a portion of said actuating element remote from the axle connection thereof, said actuating element ex tending to said movable member and connected theretowh'ereby rotation of the axle imparts oscillatory movement to said member and element.

5. A toy comprising a figured support having a limb with a downwardly extending actuating part, means mounting the limb for lateral oscillation about the axis of said downwardly extending actuating part, and a wheel having a rotating axle rigidly secured thereto and supporting the figured support, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation and bodily movable about such axis of rotation, said downwardly extending actuating part having spaced portions straddling the inclined section.

6. A toy comprising a figure-d support having a limb with a downwardly extending actuating part, means mounting the limb for lateral oscillation, and a wheel having a rotating axle rigidly secured thereto and movably supporting the figured support, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation and bodily movable about such axis of rotation, said downwardly extending actuating part having spaced portions straddling the inclined section, and means for constraining the actuating part against movement axially of the axle.

7. A toy comprising a figured support having a limb with a downwardly extending actuating part, means mounting the limb for lateral oscillation about the axis of said downwardly extending actuating part, and a rotatable wheel having an axle rigidly secured thereto, said axle having a section inclined with respect to the axis of rotation and bodily movable about such axis of rotation, said downwardly extending actuating part having spaced portions straddling the inclined section, the sectional dimension of the inclined section of the axle being materially less than the space between the spaced straddling portions to provide a lost motion connection between the axle and said actuating part.

HERMAN G. FISHER. 

